Monthly Archives: March 2008

Eight Weeks of Training

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“Eight Weeks of Training”

Mar08-1For the past eight weeks I have been training for a figure competition.  I gave up all of my favorite foods: pasta, sausage, cheese, bread, fruit, and desserts.  My meals consisted only of chicken/sirloin or fish, brown rice, egg whites and vegetables, vegetables and more vegetables and protein shakes.  Nothing else for 8 weeks with five meals a day.  I also found myself at the gym more – six days a week.  Some days of training required morning cardio so I found myself dragging to the gym at 5 in the morning.  Yes, five in the morning for a two hour workout.  The worst was probably the water.  The final week of prep had me drinking 2 GALLONS of water a day.  I was running (not walking) to the bathroom every 30 minutes.

I noticed physical changes throughout the entire process.  While my weight didn’t change, by body fat decreased by 5% and I lost two inches in both my hips and waist.  I also gained muscle and overall looked more tone.  I had to give up a lot of things, including dating.  I wasn’t able to go out to eat at restaurants and although I could do movies, the smell of popcorn drove me crazy.  Not only that, but after work and working out, all I felt like doing when I came home was eating and then sleeping.  It really was all about me during this time.

My first competition was this past Saturday in Covington. My goal was Top Five in my height category. There were over 100 women entered and at first I was intimidated by everyone. You immediately start sizing yourself compared to others.  The more I looked at others, though, the more I realized that I looked as good, if not better than many.  I felt more at ease. There were six height classes and I was in the 2nd shortest (figures)!   Being on stage in front of the judges was glorious.  I’ve grown up performing in front of others and the surge of energy is amazing. As they start giving out awards for my class, I realize I have a great chance of winning – and I did!!! First place, which qualifies me for nationals, what a thrill! (and the pizza I ate while driving home was so tasty!)

I’m still on cloud nine and it’s not only for winning.  I set a goal and saw it through.  I found myself cooking a week’s worth of food every Sunday and going down grocery aisles that only healthy people stroll.  I pushed myself physically. I stayed focused, surrounded myself with positive people and resisted temptation at every corner.  Only time shall tell what my figure future holds!  Click here for the complete blog.

M.Y. March 2008

In Memory of Static

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“In memory of Static”

Earlier this week, Static Major (Steve Garrett) passed away.  I last saw Steve in December at the Goodtimers party (click on link to view photo album). He was a blessing to the music world, although most of his claim to fame was behind the scenes.  I was always proud of his group Playa because they represented Louisville.  I was especially proud of Steve because he represented my high school – Waggener High School.

I remember when I was a senior in college in North Carolina.  It was a random day and I was listening to the radio.  The DJ talked about this new group that was in the area that would be opening for Dru Hill.  The group was Playa.  I instantly dialed into the station and asked her if I could speak to them.  The DJ seemed pretty shocked that I even knew who they were.  I told her I went to middle and high school with two of them.  She asked the name of the high school and put me on hold.

A couple of minutes later she’s airing live and asks Playa what they know about Waggener High School.  Since they were on a North Carolina radio station, they seemed caught off guard by the question.  She then puts me into the conversation and we sit and talk live for a lengthy time on the radio about Louisville, them sneaking backstage at the Jodeci concert to be noticed and all of their success.  After we got off the air, they invited my friends and I to their concert that night.  We met them at the hotel, hung out with them for awhile, and then received the royal treatment at the concert.

Who would have imagined that Steve would also go on to write so many famous lyrics? Ginuwine’s “Pony” and “So Anxious”, Aaliyah’s “Try Again” and “More Than a Woman”, Destiny Child’s “Say My Name”, Truth Hurt’s “Addictive”, Brandy’s “Come As You Are”, Diddy’s “Tell Me” and Pretty Ricky’s “On the Hotline” and other songs never would have existed without the mastermind of Louisville’s own Steve (Static Major) Garrett.  I listened to B96.5 on the radio on Tuesday and they did an awesome tribute to him and played a great deal of his songs. I was supposed to leave work at 5:00 that, but stayed almost an hour over to keep listening because his hits kept playing.  We all want to leave our mark on this world and Steve did his thang!!